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Cookeville Water Department customers experiencing discolored water Monday do not have reason for concern. Water Department Director Barry Turner said the discoloration occurred after a water main break on Sunday. “That sort of caused some reverse flow on one of the lines and increased velocity by having one of the lines shut down,” Turner said. “So it scoured the sides ... Read More »

September is National Senior Center Month. Center’s across the Upper Cumberland are celebrating and seeing participation reach normal levels after COVID. Clay County Director Sandra Wix said its membership has increased slightly with several new senior residents moving in. ‘We have been doing great,” Wix said. “We have continued to grow. We did have some participants that did not come ... Read More »

The Bill Dance Signature Lakes program will require a feasibility study before taking the next steps at Dale Hollow Lake. Some $15 million will be invested in fish stocking, habitat, and fisheries management as well as improved access for fishing and boating. Pickett County Executive Stephen Bilbrey said the county is working with the Appalachian Regional Commission to apply for ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech nursing student enrollment holding steady this fall semester after recent low enrollment. School of Nursing Director Barbara Jared said Tennessee Tech’s School of Nursing typically sees about 600 undergraduate students. At the graduate level, the average is about 140 students. Jared said she believes the drop in enrollment numbers was influenced by the pandemic. “And I think the ... Read More »

Pickett County approved a bid to purchase a new ambulance at some $271,000. County Executive Stephen Bilbrey said the county currently has four ambulances in good condition. However, with an estimated 18-month lead time the county wanted to plan ahead. “You know since it’s going to take so long to get this ambulance they went ahead and approved it,” Bilbrey ... Read More »

Veterans Barber Shop in Cookeville is heading to Baxter. Owner Jonathan Williams said after renting the Veterans Drive location for some 16 years, he has found a place to buy. “I think this is going to be a good move for a number of reasons,” Williams said. “I already have a large number of customers from Baxter and surrounding areas, ... Read More »

Consumers are increasingly using buy now, pay later apps or using credit cards to cover the cost of rising food bills amid high inflation. Local Attorney Dale Bohannon said while it might be a short-term aid, the danger comes when it’s time to pay it back. “You don’t want to finance living expenses,” Bohannon said. “Because if you’re not able ... Read More »

As Florida and UT rekindle their rivalry Saturday, there are Upper Cumberland ties on the Florida sidelines. The parents of Gators Head Coach Billy Napier met at Tennessee Tech. Napier was also born at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. While most football fans will be tuning in Saturday as the Tennessee Vols face the Florida Gators. Celina’s Thomas Weaver and Danial ... Read More »

This week in the Upper Cumberland the Cookeville Planning Commission meets Monday night. Commissioners will consider several residential developments for study or action. Business begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, the Putnam County School Board will receive an update on ongoing capital projects such as the Upperman High School addition and the K-4 Park View School. The meeting starts at 5:00 ... Read More »

A special-called meeting scheduled as a result of a Thursday Sparta Board of Aldermen work session regarding sewer violations. City Administrator Brad Hennessee said TDEC placed the city on notice in 2019 regarding the overflow issues. Hennessee said the meeting will continue efforts to fulfill a consent order that requires corrective action. “The engineer that has been working on the ... Read More »